LS Plastic Model Ships Collection

Models were personally built but commentaries are not my own - gleaned through information found in the web.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Revell U.S.S. Enterprise Aircraft Carrier

Enterprise entered World War II on the morning of December 7, 1941, when her scout planes encountered the Japanese squadrons attacking Pearl Harbor. Not until May 14, 1945, when a Kamikaze attack off Kyushu, Japan, left a gaping hole in her flight deck, was she forced to leave the war.

Of the more than twenty major actions of the Pacific War, Enterprise engaged in all but two. Her planes and guns downed 911 enemy planes; her bombers sank 71 ships, and damaged or destroyed 192 more. Her presence inspired both pride and fear: pride in her still unmatched combat record, and fear in the knowledge that Enterprise and hard fighting were never far apart.

The most decorated ship of the Second World War, Enterprise changed the very course of a war she seemed to have been expressly created for.

Full Model Review:
http://www.modelshipwrights.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=1964

Full History:
http://www.cv6.org/







Monogram U.S.S. Nimitz Aircraft Carrier 1/700 Scale

The Nimitz Class aircraft carriers are the largest warships ever built. With over 6,000 personnel (crew and aircrew), the carrier has a displacement of 102,000t, and a flight deck length of 332.9m. All nine nuclear-powered Nimitz class carriers have been built by Newport News Shipbuilding (now Northrop Grumman Ship Systems), based in Virginia.

Full History:
http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/nimitz/








Revell Luxury Liner Queen Mary 1/570 Scale

Once called 'The Inevitable Ship', the Queen Mary has survived to see the passing of seven decades, witnessing a passage of time and history that has given rise to many turning points in the history of mankind. The Queen Mary herself, playing a role in not only the epic events of World War II, but the transport of millions of passengers during her 1001 voyages across the North Atlantic, has gained a special place in 20th century history.

Other Model Picture:
http://www.mksmc.co.uk/models/others/queen_mary.htm

Full History:
http://uncommonjourneys.com/pages/queenmry.htm









Glencoe U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Boat 1/48 Scale

The US Coast Guard Rescue Boat was designated as a motor life boat (MLB) for the rescue of ships crews in distress. The model TRS version of the MLB entered service in 1937 with a length of 36'10" and a width of 10'9". It had a crew of three and could rescue up to twenty people.

The boat was designed with a lead keel weighing in at two tons. It was planked with cypress frames and powered by a 100 horsepower engine. It could make nine knots and operated with a 200 mile radius.

138 of these boats were built and remained in active service until the last TRS was retired in 1987. These boats could operate in a wide range of weather conditions and were based at Coast Guard Life Boat stations around the country.

Full Model Review:
http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/glen/kit_glen_uscg.shtml






Sunday, November 19, 2006

Harbor Tug Boat 1/108 Plastic Ship Model Kit by Revell Germany

1:108 scale. When cargo vessels come into harbor, having covered thousands of sea miles, they still have a difficult stretch ahead of them. This is where the Harbor Tug comes into their own, takes over command and tows these gigantic ships safely alongsid






Revell N.S. Savannah 1/380 Scale

The NS Savannah was the world's first nuclear merchant vessel. She was launched July 21st 1959. Her maiden voyage was not before 1962 due to numerous technical difficulties. She was designed as an experimental, non competitive, cargo/passenger vessel and built by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation as a joint Atomic Energy Commission - Maritime Administration project. Unlike naval vessels such as submarines and aircraft carriers, where nuclear propulsion is widely used and accepted, the NS Savannah, and the later Otto Hahn proved that this method of propulsion is unsuccessful on commercial merchant ships.

One of the major problems, besides high maintenance due to security reasons, is lack of public acceptance regarding nuclear energy in general. Even though the NS Savannah had no reported accidents, only few passengers traveled on her. The ship was taken out of service in 1970 and lies now floating and neglected in the James River together with other abandoned vessels. A plan to use the NS Savannah as a museum has yet to become reality.

Full Model Reviews:
http://debrisfield.russellwild.co.uk/kitreviews/savannahcs/
http://debrisfield.russellwild.co.uk/kitreviews/savannahmp/








IMEX M.S. Cargoliner Trinidad 1/450 Scale

Overall Rating: In my opinion this kit is deserving of a 7.5 out of 10. Although it does not appear to be as challenging as Bahrain, and somewhat over-simplified in some of the detailing, the bar 'can be raised' with this one provided one is willing to invest both time and money (P/E enhancement). Well worth the initial investment.

Full Model Review:
http://debrisfield.russellwild.co.uk/kitreviews/mstrinidadmsnedlloydrouenrj/